The Taste Of Ink by The Used

Album: The Used (2002)

Charted: 52

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

When was spoke with The Used bassist Jeph Howard, he said: "I think 'The Taste of Ink' was originally written about our situation, like us being stuck in a little small town and wanting to play music and wanting to get out there and wanting to tour. It's really about being too broke to even leave our small town. It was kind of an interesting time and that's what the song is really about - trying to get out and move and to become something. That's what it is, but anybody can take it however they want. It can be about your family."

The "small town" Jeph refers to is Orem, Utah, which has a population close to 100,000. Orem does have a large Mormon population, and The Used didn't always fit in - lead singer Bert McCracken was raised Mormon, but it didn't take. Jeph was also raised Mormon, which is not a community known for Hardcore music.
This song originally appeared on a demo by The Used called Demos from the Basement. A re-recorded version of the song with slightly different lyrics in the chorus appear on their 2002 self-titled debut.
The video was directed by The Malloys, who have also shot videos for Vampire Weekend, Silversun Pickups, Kesha, Weezer, and Say Anything. The clip features a person biting down on a pen in frustration, meant to be a metaphor as the song is about The Used's early frustrations as an unknown band in a town where they felt constrained.
Bert McCracken sings on the chorus:

So here I am it's in my hands
And I'll savor every moment of this
So here I am alive at last

He explained to Kerrang! October 18, 2014: "We had this chorus that was pretty cool, but when (producer), John Feldmann said the chorus could be better. I wasn't all that bummed out. I was into the idea of changing it up, and it came together in 15 minutes."

"Being out in LA and being in that moment, it's definitely not forced – you could really yell that refrained to your friend at your most exciting moment on your spring break after you drank beer and did what spring breakers do. It's on the borderline where it could be beyond corny and cheesy, but it's that special that it works, and I think that's what makes it timeless. Well, timeless is is huge, let's say it's yearless (laughs)."

Comments: 26

Tegan from Bellville, NjI think it is about them not fitting in, And being trapped. They say in the used video diary(which i have watched about 200 times) that it is a symbol of breaking free...PS to jennifer yes everyone loves jepha!!! hes soooo cute!!
Alex from Salt Lake, UtThis song is about the frustration of writing a song at 4 o'clock in the f--king morning. bert would bite the pen out of frustration and get ink in his mouth because he felt pressured to write a song that would make their career take off so they could leave utah behind them.
Mister from Bezons, FranceWhen this is performed live, Bert sings, "The taste of Vic..." after the name of the bands tattoo artist, Vic Back.
Angie from Murcia, SpainI also thought this song was about suicide, I listen to it every time I ger angry or sad, it realeses me from all that, especially when the singer starts screaming, I love that part. Great song!
John from Galloway, Njat first i thought this song was about being with the one you love...getting her to notice you...and taking her places and savoring every moment of it...
Kari from Tempe, AzBert McCracken, the singer, blows me away with his voice in this song!
Caz from Minnesot Lake, Nmthis song get me up and going when im down... dont know why lol
Ashley from Buffalo, NyI LOVE THIS SONG!! Absolutely A-MA-ZING!
Jenni from Nowhere, OhDon't you people understand the title at all..? "The Taste of Ink", chewing on the end of the pen, trying to find the words, yet to no avail. Also the lyric "Not enough to feed the hungry" is in reference to the ink in the pen also, I believe.
Of course it is also about them breaking away from their hometown, but that is a lot more obvious.
This is my favorite song of all time, because the lyric "the taste of ink is getting old" means an awful lot to me.
The Used writes some exceptional lyrics, and I must also applaud their excellent performance at Taste Of Chaos 2007 at Dayton's Hara Arena. Superb stage presence.
And to Kara, originally, I thought that this song entailed suicide, but I listened to it some more, and it just became evident that this was not the case at all.
Bobby from Barcelona, United Statesthis song is awesome & extremely well written.
Emily from Rockland, MeThe Taste of Ink is my Favorite song by my SECOND favorite band! I LOVE THEM AND YOU SHOULD TOO! and it helps that Quinn is the most gorgeous boy with a guitar i've ever seen!
Jesse from Chandler , AzThis song is really easy to relate to par say '' Is it worth it can you even hear me?'' trying to say something to a parent/relative or anyone you're close to and being completely ignored or blown off ''At last its finally over couldnt take this town much longer'' meaning going away im outa here no more i dont need this garbage this song will be cherished as one of the most pure out going and amazing songs i have ever heard
Jessie from Quebec, CanadaThis song is better in show then on the CD ,but it's what I thing me!

-jessie (quebec,quebec,canada)
Erin Koczkur from Chilliwack , CanadaThis song is awesome!!!! im hooked
Spencer from Windsor, CanadaI agree it is a good song and not well known like buried myself alive and all that ive got which is a horrible song, no offence Bert, u still rock. other wise i think the song is cool because mormans bug me and thats cool that they rebel against them in there hometown of Utah. Late
Jack&jill from Went Up The Hill, DenmarkGosh, Becca, you hate all the good bands like this one and fall out boy. What's your problem? I would've wrote a comment about their great song" all that i've got" but they don't have it waaaaaa
Ashley from Naples , Flinteresting fact: while making the video for this song bert accidently swallowed some ink and damaged his vocal cords. he had to go to voice therapy and stuff.
Renee from Corona, Cagreat song. i didnt really know what it was about...but yeah in the video, the gas station had a sign that said utah-something...
Becca from Hamilton, CanadaI hate the Used with a passion. However,I love this song.
Jennifer from Lorain, OhYea Branden had to break free from his job... he hated being a boxer at some store.. and Quinn had to break free... he couldn't stand having a boss tell him what to do... Bert had to break free from it all- family, work, drugs... and Jeph-well, he's Jepha :) we all love him!
Lyzette from Moorpark, Caink doesn't taste very good btw
Mgn from Mech., Pai love "the taste of ink"!
Marilynn from Winchester, VaI agree. This song is the story of the band.
Conor from Wexford, IrelandJust goes to show how easy it is to take a suicide interpretation from any song.
Kara from Moro, IlI love this song. I thought it was about suicide. Oops. :s
Yolanda Morphinite from Bountiful , UtThis song is the story of the band.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

I Shot The SheriffBob Marley & the Wailers

Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff" deals with police brutality in the Trenchtown section of Jamaica, where he grew up. He felt that police assumed young men in the area were all criminals.

Bang!AJR

The voice is that says "here we go" in the AJR song "Bang!" belongs to Charlie Pellett, the announcer on the New York City subway ("stand clear of the closing doors, please").

StanEminem

Thanks to Eminem's song, the word "stan" was added to the Oxford American Dictionary in 2017. It means an obsessive fan.

Wake Me UpAvicii

The first big hit to blend EDM with country music was "Wake Me Up" by the Swedish DJ Avicii. He put the song together with Mike Einziger of Incubus and with Aloe Blacc, who sings on it.

Heads Carolina, Tails CaliforniaJo Dee Messina

Jo Dee Messina's 1996 country classic "Heads Carolina, Tails California" was inspired by a book released the previous year called Border Music by Robert James Waller, where the main character flips a coin to decide his next destination.

The Jean GenieDavid Bowie

The band Simple Minds took their name from the line "He's so simple minded he can't drive his module" in David Bowie's "The Jean Genie."